Within the United Stated Patent and Trademark Office, there are two separate trademark “registers” that exist, namely the Principal and the Supplemental. Typically when an applicant files a new trademark application, that application when ultimately approved and issued is defaulted to be on the Principal Register. However, under some circumstances during the prosecution of the application, the examiner may recommend, or the applicant may have to voluntarily amend the application to the Supplemental Register. Generally, “descriptive” marks are not entitled to the Principal register and instead must go on the Supplemental Register.
The question becomes what is the difference between the...

It is not commonly known by many inventors that there are different types of patent searches and opinions depending upon the reason for the search. Namely there are four varieties of patent searches: 1) Novelty (patentability); 2) Freedom to Operate (FTO); 3) Non-infringement; and 4) Validity.
1. Novelty or Patentability Search
Novelty searches tend to be the most common search requested. Simply stated, this type of search and opinion is conducted to determine the likelihood of getting a patent through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The question asked is whether the invention is patentable through the USPTO, but does...

Hollywoodlife.com recently asked us questions in an interview regarding Blac Chyna’s attempt to utilize the Kardashian name in a trademark. It turns out the Kardashian family is not too keen on soon to be relative, Blac Chyna using the family name for business purposes. Blac Chyna is set to marry Rob Kardashian in 2017, and just recently filed an “intent-to-use” trademark application for “ANGELA RENEE KARDASHIAN” connected to advertising and entertainment services. While the trademark office (United States Patent and Trademark Office) did not have an issue with the application and issued a Notice of Publication, the various Kardashian business...

Cohen IP Law Group, P.C. is proud to announce that it has been named as the winner of the Boutique category – Trademark Infringement Law Firm of the Year in California – 2016 by Global Law Experts (GLE)
www.globallawexperts.com. Over recent months, GLE has conducted its extensive nomination and research process for the 7th Annual Global Law Experts Awards. The shortlisted candidates were judged on client testimonials, key cases, legal rankings, overall reputation, publication contributions, speaking engagements and the performance and standing of teams and individual lawyers.
During the recommendations stage GLE received over 120,000 responses from business directors, in-house legal counsel, independent law firms, high...

The Wall Street Journal reported today that trademark applications for hashtags increased exponentially
in 2015. Hashtags are words or phrases that are preceded by the pound symbol (“#”) to classify a topic
of conversation on social media platforms.
Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have become essential marketing tools.
Businesses routinely use hashtags as a promotional device on social media to advertise its goods and
services. For example, Nike uses hashtags for its slogans or new products, for example, #justdoit and
#LunarEpic.
The primary purpose of using a trademark is for a business to indicate a source of origin for its goods
and services to the...

Just wrapped up an interview with Noticias 62 about Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, the notorious drug lord who was recently captured, and trademark issues related to him believe it or not. Evidently, his family has filed for several trademark applications in Mexico throughout the years, many of which have been rejected by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property aka the Mexican trademark office. The rejection was based on Mexico’s trademark law that prohibits the registration of trademarks that are contrary to morality and decency, namely that El Chapo signifies a person who is wanted by the authority for committing various crimes....

We have definitely been busy here at Cohen IP Law Group. Here are just some of the trademark and patent registrations we received this week alone. We are excited to exceed our 2014 total registrations for our clients!...

Cohen IP Law Group, PC is pleased to announce its inclusion in Intellectual Property Today’s 2015 list of “Top Trademark Firms.” This marks the firm’s sixth time ranking in the list. Intellectual Property Today is one of the legal industry’s leading intellectual property publications, focusing on legal issues in patent, trademark and copyright law. Firms are ranked according to the number of U.S. trademark registrations issued in 2014 where the firm or individual attorney is listed as the legal representative on the registration.
Cohen IP Law Group, P.C. is a premier boutique intellectual property law firm specializing in complex trademark prosecution and litigation matters in addition...

The emerging U.S.cannabis industry is estimated of producing $10.2 billion in the next five years. This is not entirely surprising as the road to legalization has already been paved withColoradoandWashingtonhaving legalized recreational use of cannabis, while a large number of other states includingCaliforniahave legalized it for medicinal use. Meanwhile, the Federal government has not yet changed the classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. The use, possession, sale, cultivation, and transportation of cannabis is still illegal under Federal law.
While the laws regulating marijuana related businesses the changed over the years, startups in...